Roller shade filler panel

ABSTRACT

Certain embodiments of the present invention provide an apparatus for closing off an opening above, below, or between electronic equipment in a rack. The rack includes a pair of equipment rails. The electronic equipment is mounted to the equipment rails. The apparatus includes a base, a roller shade, and a handle. The roller shade is rotatably connected to the base and includes a free end extending from the base when the roller shade is rotated. The handle is connected to the free end of the roller shade. The base is removably connected to the equipment rails at a first position. The handle is removably connected to the equipment rails at a second position spaced apart from the first position such that the free end of the roller shade is extended to close off the opening in the rack.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.13/314,730, filed on Dec. 8, 2011, which will issue as U.S. Pat. No.8,915,286 on Dec. 23, 2014, which claims the benefit of U.S. ProvisionalPatent Application No. 61/424,116, filed on Dec. 17, 2010, each of whichis incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a filler panel, and more particularly,a roller shade filler panel for a rack.

Filler panels are well known in the art. Typically, filler panels arecapable of accommodating only one size of opening. However, aselectronic equipment is added to and subtracted from a rack, the size ofthe opening changes. Therefore, there is a need for a filler panel thatis capable of accommodating more than one size of opening.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Certain embodiments of the present invention provide an apparatus forclosing off an opening above, below, or between electronic equipment ina rack. The rack includes a pair of equipment rails. The electronicequipment is mounted to the equipment rails. The apparatus includes abase, a roller shade, and a handle. The roller shade is rotatablyconnected to the base and includes a free end extending from the basewhen the roller shade is rotated. The handle is connected to the freeend of the roller shade. The base is removably connected to the pair ofequipment rails at a first position. The handle is removably connectedto the pair of equipment rails at a second position spaced apart fromthe first position such that the free end of the roller shade isextended to close off the opening in the rack.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a roller shade filler panel for a rackaccording to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the roller shade filler panel of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a portion of a rack;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the roller shade filler panel of FIG. 1installed in the rack of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of the roller shade filler panel of FIG. 4,showing one side of the base removably connected to the equipment rail;

FIG. 6 is an exploded view of a floating cage nut and a threaded thumbscrew knob for the base of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of the roller shade filler panel of FIG. 4,showing one side of the handle removably connected to the equipmentrail;

FIG. 8 is an exploded view of a floating cage nut and a bullet for thehandle of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the roller shade filler panel of FIG. 4,showing the handle repositioned to accommodate equipment installed belowthe roller shade filler panel;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the roller shade filler panel of FIG.9, showing the handle repositioned to accommodate additional equipmentinstalled below the roller shade filler panel;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the roller shade filler panel of FIG.10, showing the base repositioned to accommodate equipment installedabove the roller shade filler panel;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the roller shade filler panel of FIG.11, showing the base repositioned to accommodate additional equipmentinstalled above the roller shade filler panel;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the rack of FIG. 3, showing equipmentinstalled at various locations along the equipment rails;

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the roller shade filler panel of FIG.1, showing two of the roller shade filler panels of FIG. 1 positionedbetween the equipment in the rack of FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 15-15 of FIG. 2,showing the base of the roller shade filler panel;

FIG. 16 is an enlarged view of the base of FIG. 15, showing theadjustable edge seal on the top edge of the base in a retractedposition;

FIG. 17 is an enlarged view of the base of FIG. 15, showing theadjustable edge seal on the top edge of the base in an extendedposition;

FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 18-18 of FIG. 2,showing the handle of the roller shade filler panel;

FIG. 19 is an enlarged view of the handle of FIG. 15, showing theadjustable edge seal on the bottom edge of the base in a retractedposition;

FIG. 20 is an enlarged view of the handle of FIG. 15, showing theadjustable edge seal on the bottom edge of the base in an extendedposition;

FIG. 21 is an enlarged view of the roller shade filler panel of FIG. 4,showing one of the clips for securing the roller shade to the equipmentrails; and

FIG. 22 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 22-22 of FIG. 21.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGS. 1-14 illustrate a roller shade filler panel 100 for a rack 10,such as a 2-post rack or a 4-post rack, which may also be referred to asa cabinet or an enclosure, according to an embodiment of the presentinvention.

As best seen in FIG. 1, the roller shade filler panel 100 includes abase 110, a roller shade 120 rotatably connected to the base 110, and ahandle 130 connected to a free end 122 of the roller shade 120. Theroller shade 120 rotates from a retracted position (FIG. 1) to anextended position (FIGS. 4, 9-12, and 14). Preferably, the roller shade120 is under constant tension so that it will return to the retractedposition, but it is likewise contemplated that the roller shade 120includes a tension-relieving device, for example, similar to that of aseat belt or a window shade.

As best seen in FIG. 2, the base 110 includes a pair of side flanges112. The side flanges 112 are for mounting the roller shade 120 to thebase 110. Additionally, the side flanges 112 are for mounting a rollershade guide rod 114 to the base 110. The roller shade guide rod 114 issecured to the base 110 by a pair of fasteners 116. The roller shadeguide rod 114 is for aligning the roller shade 120 with the front of thebase 110.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the base 110 includes a grounding fastener115, for example, mounted between one of the side flanges 112 and thegrounding rod 114, for grounding the roller shade filler panel 100.

As best seen in FIG. 2, the roller shade 120 includes a pair of pins 124for engaging the side flanges 112 of the base 110 and a pair of end caps126 for minimizing “walking” as the roller shade 120 retracts.Preferably, the side flanges 112 include embossed regions 118 forengaging the pins 124 and the end caps 126, and minimizing side-to-sidemovement of the roller shade 120.

Additionally, as best seen in FIG. 2, the handle 130 includes a pair ofside flanges 132. The side flanges 132 are for mounting a roller shademounting rod 134 to the handle 130. The free end 122 of the roller shade120 includes a loop 128. The roller shade mounting rod 134 is positionedthrough the loop 128 and secured to the handle 130 by a pair offasteners 136. Additionally, the handle 130 includes a top flange 138.The top flange 138 is for aligning the roller shade 120 with the frontof the handle 130.

As best seen in FIG. 3, the rack 10 includes a pair of equipment rails20, which may also be referred to as channels or posts. Other componentsof the rack 10, such as floor mounting brackets and adjustable shelves,as well as additional equipment rails, channels, and posts, have beenomitted for clarity.

As shown in FIG. 4, the roller shade filler panel 100 is positioned inthe rack 10 and extends from the top of the equipment rails 20 to thebottom of the equipment rails 20, closing off the opening between theequipment rails 20.

The roller shade filler panel 100 is removably connected to theequipment rails 20. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, the base 110 isremovably connected to the equipment rails 20 by a floating cage nut 140and a threaded thumb screw knob 150. Similarly, as shown in FIG. 7, thehandle 130 is removably connected to the equipment rails 20 by afloating cage nut 160, a bullet 170, and a pair of latches 180, each ofwhich is slidably connected to the handle 130 by a shaft 182, a spring184, a pair of o-rings 186, and a pair of front flanges 188.Additionally, as best seen in FIG. 2, the handle 130 includes a latchcover 190 for covering proximate ends of the latches 180. The cover 190is secured to the handle 130 by a pair of fasteners 192.

As shown in FIG. 6, the floating cage nut 140 includes a floatingportion 142 for accommodating non-standard spacing between the equipmentrails 20. Similarly, as shown in FIG. 8, the floating cage nut 160includes a floating portion 162 for accommodating non-standard spacingbetween the equipment rails 20, as well as a fastener 164 for engagingthe bullet 170. It is likewise contemplated that the roller shade fillerpanel 100 includes a standard cage nut.

As shown in FIGS. 9-12, the roller shade filler panel 100 isrepositioned to accommodate equipment 30, such as servers, switches, andpatch panels, as the equipment 30 is installed in the rack 10. Forexample, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, without removing the base 130 fromthe equipment rails 20, the handle 130 is repositioned to accommodateequipment 30 installed below the roller shade filler panel 100.Similarly, as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, without removing the handle 130from the equipment rails 20, the base 110 is repositioned to accommodateequipment 30 installed above the roller shade filler panel 100.

Alternatively, as shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, two roller shade fillerpanels 100 are positioned between the equipment 30.

In certain embodiments of the present invention, the roller shade fillerpanel 100 includes an adjustable edge seal. For example, as shown inFIGS. 15-17, a top edge 117 of the base 110 includes an adjustable edgeseal 119 for sealing against equipment 30 installed above the rollershade filler panel 100. Similarly, as shown in FIGS. 18-20, a bottomedge 137 of the handle 130 includes an adjustable edge seal 139 forsealing against equipment 30 installed below the roller shade fillerpanel 100.

In certain embodiments of the present invention, the roller shade fillerpanel 100 includes radio-frequency identification (“RFID”). For example,components of the roller shade filler panel 100, including the base 110and the handle 130, as well as components of the rack 10, including theequipment rails 20, preferably at one rack unit (“1RU”) intervals, andthe equipment 30, include RFID tags to determine the location of theroller shade filler panel 100, for example, with respect to the rack 10,the equipment rails 20 and the equipment 30.

As best seen in FIGS. 21 and 22, but also shown in FIGS. 4, 9-12, and14, the roller shade filler panel 100 includes one or more clips 200 forsecuring the roller shade 120 to the equipment rails 20.

While this invention has been described in conjunction with theexemplary embodiments outlined above, various alternatives,modifications, variations, and/or improvements, whether known orpresently unforeseen, may become apparent. Accordingly, the exemplaryembodiments of the invention as set forth above are intended to beillustrative, not limiting. Various changes may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention.

The invention claimed is:
 1. An apparatus for closing off an openingabove, below, or between electronic equipment in a rack, the rackcomprising an equipment rail, the electronic equipment mounted to theequipment rail, the apparatus comprising: a base removably connected tothe equipment rail; a roller shade rotatably connected to the base, theroller shade having a free end, the free end extending from the basewhen the roller shade is rotated; and a handle connected to the free endof the roller shade, the handle having a pin extending from the handleand through an opening in the equipment rail, along a pin axis and alatch slidably connected to the handle along a latch axis transverserelative to the pin axis, wherein the equipment rail is positionedbetween the handle and the latch, and the latch is configured to engageand disengage the pin.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the baseincludes a pair of side flanges for receiving the roller shade.
 3. Theapparatus of claim 2, wherein each of the side flanges includes anembossed region.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the roller shadeincludes a pair of pins for rotatably connecting the roller shade to thebase.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the roller shade includes apair of end caps for minimizing side-to-side movement of the rollershade.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the roller shade includes atensioning device.
 7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the handleincludes a mounting rod for securing the handle to the free end of theroller shade.
 8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the free end of theroller shade includes a loop for receiving the mounting rod.
 9. Theapparatus of claim 1, wherein the base includes a guide rod for aligningthe roller shade with the front of the base.
 10. The apparatus of claim1, wherein the handle includes a top flange for aligning the rollershade with the front of the handle.
 11. The apparatus of claim 1,wherein the handle includes a floating cage nut, the floating cage nuthaving a first portion removably connected to the handle and a secondportion slidably connected to the first portion such that the secondportion slides relative to the handle.
 12. The apparatus of claim 11,wherein the pin extends from the second portion of the floating cagenut.
 13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the base includes a floatingcage nut, the floating cage nut having a first portion removablyconnected to the base and a second portion slidably connected to thefirst portion such that the second portion slides relative to the base.14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the base includes a thumb screwremovably connected to the second portion of the floating cage nut. 15.The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a clip for securing a sideof the roller shade to the rack.